Match Report

Dundee United were looking to reclaim third spot in the SPL in front of the Sky Sports cameras at the Falkirk Stadium in Sunday afternoon’s early kick-off, after Hibernian leap-frogged them less than 24 hours earlier with a comprehensive 5-1 win over Hamilton at Easter Road.

The visitors enjoyed the best of the opening exchanges, and with just under a half hour on the clock, United broke the deadlock through David Goodwillie. Prince Buaben fed the ball into the path of the 20 year-old David Goodwillie, who beat defender Brian McLean before coolly slotting the ball home from a tight angle. The home side almost got back on level terms moments later when Colin Healy’s corner found Showunmi in space at the edge of the box. But the imposing striker blasted his powerful driver over the bar. Remarkably, Eddie May’s side had never gone into the break leading in 18 matches so far this season, and they found themselves trailing by two on the stroke of half-time after a blistering counter attack. Ryan Flynn’s right-footed strike was saved by Pernis and the Slovakian keeper’s route one clearance bounced awkwardly over former West Brom defender Pele and Jon Daly was on hand to capitalise, before delicately lobbing the ball over the hapless Olejink.

Into the second half and United's next goal was every bit as good as the two that preceded it. Goodwillie’s neat flick was picked up by Danny Swanson, who charged forward before threading a perfectly weighted pass into the path of Jon Daly. And the Irishman’s low drive from 12-yards beat Olejink. Casalinuovo replaced Goodwillie after an hour, and forced a fine save from Olejink before 27 year-old Dubliner Jon Daly completed his first ever SPL hat-trick league for United three years after signing from Hartlepool. Craig Conway was the supplier, finding the Jon Daly unmarked in the box, and he nodded home to put United four clear. In injury time, the Bairns two half-time substitutes combined to beat Dusan Pernis for the first time between the stick with a late consolation, but few home fans were left in attendance to witness it, when Jack Compton’s powerful pinpoint cross was steered in Pedro Moutinho. That strike robbed United of their fourth consecutive clean sheet, which would’ve taken their tally for the season to 12 in all competitions.